CN112041523B

CN112041523B - Handle arrangement and use thereof

Info

Publication number: CN112041523B
Application number: CN201980024044.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 丹尼尔·约翰逊
Original assignee: Nesher Industrial Co ltd
Current assignee: Nesher Industrial Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-16
Filing date: 2019-05-06
Publication date: 2021-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-06
Also published as: WO2019219431A1; BR112020020654A2; EP3569798B1; CA3098527A1; CN112041523A; EP3569798C0; PL3569798T3; EP3569798A1; US20210164260A1; US11846122B2

Abstract

The present disclosure proposes a handle arrangement and use of the handle arrangement. The handle arrangement comprises a housing, a handle comprising a handle grip and a coupling portion, the handle being rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis, and a gear being rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis, the handle arrangement further comprising a motion converter comprising a rack arranged adjacent to the gear, the motion converter rack being linearly movable relative to the gear along a third axis, the motion converter comprising cutting teeth configured to engage with respective cogs of the gear, wherein the motion converter is coupled to the handle such that rotation of the handle about the first axis causes the motion converter rack to move along the third axis such that the gear rotates about the second axis.

Description

Handle arrangement and use thereof

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a lift handle arrangement, and more particularly to a compact lift handle arrangement.

Background

To facilitate opening of doors or windows, there is a wide range of handle arrangements. One particular type is known as a lift handle arrangement, see for example EP 0261266. The handle arrangement includes a longitudinal handle pivotally coupled at one end to the connecting element to allow rotation of the longitudinal handle relative to the connecting element about the first axis. The connecting element is rotatable about a second axis. The connecting element may be coupled to a latch member of the door or window that secures the door or window in the closed position. By rotating the connecting element, the latch member is moved between a latched position, in which the door is securely closed, and an unlatched position, in which the door can be opened. To unlock or secure the door or window, the lift handle must be rotated in two directions, first away from or toward the door or window surface about a pivot axis at the connecting member, and then rotated about the second axis to rotate the connecting member about the second axis. Due to its design, this handle arrangement is a common handle arrangement for assisting in opening doors or windows.

However, this type of solution requires the handle to be rotated in both directions to unlock or secure the door or window. This may require a relatively large free space due to the turning radius of the handle. This presents a problem when used in a compact environment where the longitudinal lifting handle may be obstructed when rotated about the second axis, thereby obstructing the opening of the door or window. Further, a handle is configured to be directly coupled to a latch mechanism of the door or window.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lift handle arrangement that addresses the problem of having a large turning radius in a compact environment, while having a structure that can withstand prolonged pressure and efficiently utilize the limited available space within the handle arrangement housing.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved solution which alleviates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the existing solutions. Furthermore, it is an object to provide an improved solution for unfastening or fastening a door, wherein the solution is compact and sufficiently strong. The invention is defined by the embodiments set forth in the appended independent claims, as well as in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handle arrangement is provided. The handle arrangement comprises a housing, a handle comprising a handle grip and a handle coupling portion, the handle being capable of surrounding a first axis, and a gear wheel

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handle arrangement is provided. The handle arrangement comprises a housing, a handle comprising a handle grip and a handle coupling portion, the handle being rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis, and a gear being rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis, the handle arrangement further comprising a motion converter comprising a rack arranged adjacent to the gear, the motion converter rack being linearly movable relative to the gear along a third axis, the motion converter comprising a cutting tooth configured to engage with a corresponding cog of the gear, wherein the motion converter is coupled to the handle such that rotation of the handle about the first axis causes the motion converter rack to move along the third axis such that the gear rotates about the second axis. The motion converter is provided with a pre-biased spring configured to urge the abutment element towards a recess in the handle, the recess being configured to receive the abutment element to hold the handle in place in at least one position.

The handle arrangement may be arranged on any openable element. By openable element is meant a door, hatch, gate, window or any other type of movable element that covers at least a portion of an opening or gap when the openable element is in a closed position. One boundary of the openable element may be provided with a hinge for engagement with a hinge located on the frame of the openable element. The openable element may comprise a latch means for securing the openable element in its closed position, wherein the latch means is arranged on the openable element such that it may engage in a catch means arranged near an opening or gap of the frame of the openable element. The latch device is movable between a latched position in which the openable element is secured and an unlatched position in which the openable element is unlatched and movable. Movement of the latch between the latched and unlatched positions may be achieved by rotation of a coupling element (e.g., a shaft).

The gear may be connected to a connecting element configured to couple with the connecting element. The connecting element may extend mainly in a general direction, which defines a longitudinal direction of extension of said connecting element. The longitudinal axis of the connecting element may be the intended axis of rotation of the connecting element. The gear wheel may be connected such that its intended axis of rotation, i.e. said second axis, coincides with the intended axis of rotation of the connecting element. The gear and the connecting element can be manufactured as two separate parts. The gear and the connecting element may be manufactured as a single component. The gear and the connecting element may be fixed relative to each other to constitute a single part, possibly by welding them together.

The housing may have a front side and a rear side, wherein the handle is disposed along the front side of the housing when in the closed position. The rear side is configured to face the openable element when the handle arrangement is arranged on the openable element. The handle arrangement may be provided with attachment means for attaching the housing to the openable element. The attachment means may be a screw configured to engage with a threaded hole in the openable element through a hole in the rear side of the housing. The screw may be fixed to the openable element by a nut. The housing may be configured with an opening on a rear side of the housing such that the gear is accessible through the connecting element. The housing may be arranged on the openable element such that the connecting element protrudes through the opening to couple to the coupling element of the openable element.

The handle grip may have a front side and a rear side, wherein the rear side is defined as the side facing the housing when the handle is in the closed position, and wherein the front side is defined as the handle grip side of the handle facing away from the housing when the handle is in the closed position. The handle grip may include a boundary connecting the front side surface and the rear side surface. The boundary may be an edge. The boundaries may be different side surfaces. The boundary may be a set of different side surfaces. The handle coupling portion may be disposed at a rear side of the handle. The handle coupling portion may extend into the housing when the handle is arranged and coupled to the housing. The handle coupling portion may include a protruding portion extending from the handle coupling portion along a first axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle. The protruding portion may symmetrically extend from the handle coupling portion. The protruding portion may have a circular cross-section along the first axis. The handle may be coupled to the housing by a projection on the handle coupling portion such that the handle may rotate about the first axis.

The handle arrangement may comprise a first latch mechanism for securing the handle to the housing. The first latching mechanism may include a latch element in the housing and a latch receiving element disposed on the handle. The latch element may include a latch that is movable into a position to engage the latch receiving element and grasp the handle when the handle is in the closed position. The latch may be in the shape of a hook. The latch receiving element may be located on a rear side of the handle. The latch receiving element may be positioned near a longitudinal end, i.e. an opposite end with respect to the end of the handle closer to the rotationally coupled part with the housing. The latch receiving element may be positioned along a boundary of the handle grip. The latch receiving element may be located on the front surface. The latch of the first latching mechanism may be moved into position by translation, rotation, or by a combination of both.

The movement of the latch may be controlled by a locking device arranged on the handle arrangement. The housing may have a cavity for holding such a locking device securely in place. The locking device may be configured to be accessed from a front side of the housing. The locking device may be configured to be accessed by displacing the shutter onto the front side of the housing. The shutter may be movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing. The shutter may be configured to be movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and may cause the openable elements to unlatch. The disclosed handle arrangement allows the handle to be coupled only indirectly to the coupling element of the door. In this case, any pressure applied to the handle will not damage the coupling element or the latch mechanism of the door. Also, even if the handle is damaged due to the applied pressure, the internal mechanical structure of the handle arrangement may still be reliably protected.

Another advantage is that the disclosed handle arrangement can be constructed using relatively few mechanical parts. Thus, the risk of malfunction of the handle arrangement due to prolonged use is reduced, since fewer components may be damaged. Further, the quality of each component can be ensured more surely due to fewer components. Furthermore, the manufacturing costs can also be reduced, since fewer components have to be produced for each respective handle arrangement.

Another advantage of the disclosed handle arrangement is that the housing can have a compact form factor. The motion converter and the gear wheel can be tightly fastened by a compact housing. The housing can also be fitted with the connecting element in a compact manner. The housing may be designed to provide protection to the motion converter and gears so that unauthorized personnel cannot access the motion converter and gears. In addition, the handle may be designed to provide further protection for the motion converter and gears when the handle is in the closed position. The handle and the housing may be designed with respect to each other to provide a complete enclosure of the motion converter and the gear wheel when arranged on the door. Such a design offers the advantage of adequate protection of the internal mechanical components. This design may protect the interior of the housing from undesirable substances that may be prone to damage to mechanical components. Such substances may be, for example, dirt, which may impede the movement of mechanical parts and lead to increased wear, or liquids, which may cause corrosion. By preventing these substances from entering the interior of the housing, the durability and life expectancy of the handle arrangement may be increased and improved.

A pre-biased spring may be arranged in the cavity of the motion converter. The abutment element may urge the handle under the influence of the pre-biased spring, thereby retaining the handle in a desired position defined by the position of the recess on the handle coupling portion. For example, the recess may be positioned on the handle coupling portion such that the handle remains in place when fully rotated, thereby preventing any free rotation of the handle. This has the advantage that the latching member of the openable element is prevented from being accidentally moved to the latching position before the openable element has been properly closed. For example, if the openable element is heavy, the latch member will likely have to absorb all of the kinetic energy of the door, possibly damaging the latch member. Thus, by keeping the handle in at least one engagement position, more particularly in the open position, the latch member of the door can be protected. The abutment element may move along the surface of the recess on the handle when pushed onto the handle to move the handle. Such movement may be a sliding movement along the surface of a recess on the handle. Thus, when the latch mechanism has released the handle, the pre-biased spring and the abutment element may push the handle to the intermediate position by pushing the abutment element towards the surface of the recess on the handle being shaped so that the abutment element moves along the surface towards the recess. The intermediate position of the handle may be a position between the closed position and the open position.

Furthermore, the plurality of recesses engaged with the abutment element may be distributed along the handle coupling portion facing the abutment element during the entire range of rotational movement of the handle. Thus, a plurality of engagement positions can be established in which the handle is prevented from rotating freely. Further, a recess may be placed along the side of the handle coupling portion so that the handle is directly in the engaged position when unfastened from the housing. This has the advantage that the latching mechanism can be omitted, wherein the handle is held in place by the recess engaging the abutment member when the handle is in the closed position. The handle may be disengaged from this engaged position by depressing the handle grip. When pressed, the abutment element may disengage from the recess. The pre-biased spring may force the abutment element against a receiving surface of the handle coupling portion, thereby accelerating rotation thereof. The rotation may be fast enough that the abutment element cannot engage with the recess, thereby passing the recess. Thus, the handle may be rotated to the intermediate position. To close the handle again, the handle may be pressed into its closed position to engage the abutment element with the recess to retain the handle in the closed position.

According to one embodiment, the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to each other. By providing a handle arrangement in which these axes are perpendicular to each other, the movement of the handle can be more easily converted into a rotation of the gear. Furthermore, by having these axes perpendicular to each other, the handle arrangement may advantageously be provided in a more compact form. Another advantage of having the first axis and the second axis arranged perpendicular to each other is that the handle can be rotated away from or towards the openable element by a pulling or pushing force, respectively. A user operating the handle arrangement may more easily apply such a force, for example by assuming a posture in which he or she uses his or her own weight when applying such a force. The first axis and the second axis may be separated by a distance so as not to intersect. In case the distance between the first axis and the second axis is long, a motion converter may be arranged. The third axis may thus extend between the first axis and the second axis.

According to another embodiment, the first axis and the second axis are parallel to each other. By providing a handle arrangement in which these axes are parallel to each other, the movement of the handle can be more easily converted into a rotation of the gear. Furthermore, by having these axes parallel to each other, the handle arrangement may advantageously be provided in a more compact form. Another advantage of arranging the first and second axes parallel to each other is that the handle may be rotated along a plane parallel to the surface of the openable element. This may be a preferred embodiment depending on the structure of the openable element and its surroundings.

According to another embodiment, the third axis is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis. By designing the handle arrangement such that the motion converter can be moved in this direction, the handle arrangement can be made more compact.

According to another embodiment, the handle comprises an elongated slot configured to guide the motion converter such that the handle may be unfastened from the fastened position to rotate to an intermediate position without translating the motion converter rack along the third axis. In this intermediate position, the uncoupled end of the handle is rotated sufficiently away from the housing to create a wide space between the rear side of the handle grip and the front side of the housing. The space may be large enough so that the user can easily insert a portion of his or her hand therein to grasp the handle. This has the advantage that the handle can easily be moved to the intermediate position without having to exert any substantial force on the motion converter. Thus, the handle may conveniently be positioned in this intermediate position for further rotation to open the openable element. A further advantage of releasing the handle to the intermediate position is that when such a locking device is provided in the handle arrangement, such a movement of the handle may indicate that the handle arrangement has been unlocked by the locking device. Whereby it can be visually seen that the locking device is opened and the handle can be operated.

According to a further embodiment, the motion converter may comprise a link element comprising two end portions, wherein one end portion is rotatably coupled to the rack and the other end portion is rotatably coupled to the handle. The linking element may be rotatably coupled to the rack by an axle engaging a corresponding slot, recess or aperture in the rack to allow rotation about a fifth axis. The linking element may be rotatably coupled to the handle by a shaft engaging with the handle, possibly a corresponding groove, recess or hole in the handle coupling portion. An axis of rotation at axis D between the motion converter and the handle may be provided between the link element and the handle. By having such a linking element, rotation of the handle can be more conveniently converted into linear movement of the rack. When the handle is rotated to the intermediate position, the link element may simply not move due to the elongated slot. When the handle is further rotated, the link element may rotate about said fifth axis about the coupling with the rack as the entire motion converter, link element and rack translate towards the handle. Advantageously, such an embodiment advantageously results in an easy conversion from rotational movement to linear movement and finally to rotational movement again when the rack is translated relative to the connecting element gear. The pre-biased spring and the abutment element of the motion converter may be arranged in said link element.

According to another embodiment, the movement converter may comprise an elongated slot guiding the movement of the abutment element when the handle is unfastened from the fastening position to rotate to the intermediate position. This has the advantage that the abutment member is prevented from twisting when pushed towards the handle. Furthermore, the elongated slot may be designed to allow only linear movement. The pre-biased spring may be arranged such that its axis of compression and expansion is parallel to the elongate slot. Thus, the pre-biased spring may push the abutment element directly towards the handle coupling portion, thereby reducing friction of the abutment element when moving along the guide slot. The motion converter may be arranged with a plurality of guide slots, preferably two guide slots arranged on opposite sides with respect to the abutment element along the inner wall of the cavity of the motion converter. The abutment element may be arranged with an engagement portion for each guide slot interacting with the abutment element. The engagement portion may extend from a body of the abutment member defining an engagement portion axis. The engagement portion extension may be cylindrical and the guide slot is configured to receive the engagement portion extension. The abutment element may be configured to rotate about the engagement portion axis such that the abutment element may rotate into a more suitable position when in contact with the receiving surface of the handle coupling portion. The interface between the engagement portion surface and the contact surface along the guide slot may be low friction, thereby further facilitating the pre-biased spring to urge the abutment element towards the handle coupling portion. The abutment element may have a spherical shape from which the engagement portion extends. The abutment element may be arranged with an inclined surface configured to extend below the handle coupling portion to guide rotation of the handle to an intermediate position.

According to a further embodiment, the contact interface between the abutment element and the handle may be inclined with respect to the contact direction of the abutment element and the handle. By having an inclined interface with respect to the contact direction, the abutment element can automatically push the handle into the intermediate position under the influence of the spring when released from a latching mechanism securing the handle to the housing. The inclined contact interface may be established by arranging the receiving surface of the handle coupling portion to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle grip. Thus, when the handle is in the closed position, the receiving surface will be inclined under the influence of the pre-biased spring with respect to the direction of contact of the abutment element with the receiving surface. This causes the force directed from the housing to rotate the handle (if not unlocked from the housing) about the first axis.

Further, the inclined contact interface may be established by providing a wedge with an inclined surface on the abutment element. The abutment member may be arranged such that the wedge faces the receiving surface of the handle coupling portion. The wedge of the abutment member may be pressed towards and along the receiving surface and follow the receiving surface after the handle coupling portion. The abutment element may be at least partially prevented from rotating about the engagement portion axis. Thus, when in contact with the receiving surface, the wedge of the abutment member will cause a force directed from the housing to rotate the handle (if not disengaged from the housing) about the first axis.

This has the advantage that the handle can take up an intermediate position whenever the user unlatches the latch from the latch receiving element of the handle. The user may not have to pry the handle away from the housing. This has the further advantage that the handle and the housing can enclose the internal mechanical components with each other, thereby reducing the amount of exposed edges which are easy to repair, thereby making the handle arrangement more protected and secure.

According to another embodiment, wherein the cogs of the gear are distributed along a part of the circumference of the gear on the side facing the rack of gears of the motion converter. I.e. along a part of the circumference of the gear, no cogs may be provided. Thus, the cogs may be distributed along a portion of the circumference of the gear only where they may be needed. For example, the cogs may be distributed along a quarter of the entire circumference of the gear if the gear only needs to be rotated 90 degrees to move the coupling latch mechanism of the openable element between the latched and unlatched positions. This has the advantage of reducing the amount of material, so that the handle arrangement can be even more compact, and the material costs are reduced.

According to another embodiment, the motion converter comprises a second rack arranged adjacent to the gear wheel on an opposite side with respect to the first motion converter rack. This has the advantage that the second rack can be used primarily as a support rack to help the pinion to fully engage with the first rack and maintain it level. If the second rack is configured similarly to the first rack, the gear may be configured such that no cog of the gear meshes with the second rack over the entire range of rotation of the gear. The second rack may be arranged without cutting teeth and only with a guide groove for mainly supporting the cog of the gear. In this case, the gear wheel may be provided with cogs along the entire circumference of the gear wheel.

According to another embodiment, the handle arrangement comprises a spring interposed between the gear and the housing. The spring may be placed between an inner wall inside the housing and the gear. The spring may be arranged to be pre-biased to urge the gear along the second axis away from or towards a surface on which the housing of the openable element is arranged. Such an advantage may be an improved ability to rotate about the second axis. In addition, the spring may also exert a torque on the gear to counteract rotation from the reference orientation. The reference orientation of the gear wheel can be selected either as its position when fastening the handle to the housing or as its position when fully opening the handle. By applying a torque on the gear, the mechanical components may be substantially protected from handle wobble, which may otherwise result in permanent damage to the internal mechanical components. Further, the pre-biased spring may be configured to abut the connecting element when the connecting element is arranged on the gear. The pre-biased spring may extend along the second axis through the opening of the gear into the cavity of the connecting element and be coupled to an interior of the cavity of the connecting element.

According to another embodiment, the handle arrangement comprises a spacer element placed between the gear and the housing. The spacing element may be placed between the inner wall of the housing interior and the gear. The spacer element may be arranged to displace the gear along the second axis away from any inner wall of the housing. The spacer element may be provided with a low friction surface to facilitate rotation of the gear wheel about the second axis. The spacer element may be provided in the shape of a disc with a hole through which the spacer element may be connected to the gear wheel. If a spring is also arranged between the gear and the housing to support the gear along the second axis, the spacer element may be arranged on the opposite side of the gear with respect to the spring, such that the spring and the spacer element sandwich the gear along the second axis. The spacer element may be configured to abut the connecting element if the connecting element is arranged on the gear.

According to another embodiment, the handle comprises a coupling recess arranged between the handle grip and the handle coupling portion, the coupling recess being configured to receive a forward facing edge of the housing when the handle is rotated to the maximally open position. This has the advantage that a wide range of rotation can be provided for the handle while providing a compact and robust handle arrangement.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a handle arrangement for releasing or securing a door in a compact environment. The door to be opened includes a latch mechanism having a latched position securing the door to the door frame and an unlatched position releasing the door, wherein the connecting element is coupled to the latch mechanism such that rotation of the connecting element about the second axis moves the latch mechanism between the latched position and the unlatched position.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 a-1 b are perspective views of a handle arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure in a closed position and an open position, respectively;

FIGS. 2 a-2 d are perspective views of a handle arrangement in a closed and open position when arranged on a door and an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the handle arrangement when arranged on a door, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

3-5 are perspective views of some elements of a handle arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of some of the assembled components of the handle arrangement in a closed position according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view with a portion of the handle cut away to more clearly disclose some of the assembled elements of the handle arrangement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of some elements of a handle arrangement in an open position according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9 a-9 b are cross-sectional side views of a handle arrangement in a closed position and an open position, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

10 a-10 b are enlarged cross-sectional side views of a handle arrangement in a closed position and an open position, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a motion converter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a connecting element according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13a is a perspective view of a latch element according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13b is a side view of a latch element according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14a is a perspective view of a locking device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14b is a side view of a locking device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

15 a-15 b are side views of an assembly of a locking device, latch element, housing support plate and handle in a secured position and a released position, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a are perspective views of different locking devices according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and is

Fig. 16b, 17b, 18b, 19b are side views of different locking devices according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

The handle arrangement 100 of the present disclosure comprises a housing 1 and a handle 2, see fig. 1a and 1 b. The housing 1 has a shape extending mainly in a certain direction, which is hereinafter referred to as longitudinal direction or longitudinal axis. The housing 1 has a rear side which is substantially rectangular in shape and is configured to face an openable element (e.g. a door) when arranged thereon. The housing 1 has a front side configured to face away from the openable element when the housing 1 is arranged on the openable element. The handle 2 includes a handle grip 6 and a handle coupling portion 8. The handle 2 is rotatably connected to the housing 1 via a handle coupling portion 8 and is arranged in a recess at the front side of the housing 1 when the handle is in the closed position, see fig. 1 a. The handle 2 can be rotated away from its closed position in the housing 1 to a maximally open position, see fig. 1 b.

The locking device 3 may be reached by displacing the shutter 4 by a sliding movement, while the shutter 4 slides along a slot located on the housing 1. The locking device 3 may be a cylinder lock. The locking device 3 is configured to engage with a latch element 34 inside the housing 1. The latch elements 34 comprise latches 35 protruding through the front side of the housing 1 to latch onto the latch receiving elements 7 located on the rear side of the handle grip 6. When the handle 2 is in the closed position, the latch 35 engages with the latch receiving element 7 so that the handle 2 is held in place in the closed position. By interacting with the locking device 3 such that it moves the latch element 34, the latch 35 may be disengaged from the latch receiving element 7, so that the handle 2 is unlocked and may be rotated away from its closed position.

Further, both longitudinal ends along the front side of the housing 1 are bent toward the side of the housing 1 connecting the front side and the rear side of the housing 1. This may result in a reduced risk of injury to a user attempting to interact with the handle 2 due to the reduced amount of sharp edges of the housing.

The housing 1 further comprises a casing 5 on the rear side of the housing 1. The housing 5 is designed to protect the locking device 3 which may extend beyond the rear side of the housing 1. The openable element on which the handle arrangement 100 is to be arranged is configured with a corresponding cavity or opening such that the handle arrangement 100 can be suitably arranged on the openable element. The locking device 3 may be configured to be also directly coupled with the latching means of the openable element, so that the locking device may control both the first latching mechanism of the handle arrangement 100 and the locking means of the openable element.

The handle arrangement 100 may be arranged on an openable element, in this case a door 200, see fig. 2 a-2 b. The door 200 is rotatably coupled to the door frame 210 via a hinge 220. The door 200 includes a latch arrangement 240 configured to engage with a catch arrangement 230 located in the door frame 210 to secure the door 200 in the closed position. In fig. 2a the door is in the closed position. In fig. 2b, the handle 2 of the handle arrangement 100 has been rotated from the closed position to the open position, such that the door 200 has been released from its fastening position and moved to the open state. Fig. 2c to 2d show enlarged views of the parts X and Y marked in fig. 2a to 2b, respectively.

The handle 2 of the handle arrangement 100 is substantially elongate in shape, extending mainly in a direction defined as a longitudinal direction, see fig. 3. The handle 2 includes a handle grip 6 and a handle coupling portion 8. The handle grip 6 has a front side and a rear side, which is arranged towards the front side of the housing 1 when in the closed position. When in the closed position, the front side of the handle grip faces away from the front side of the housing 1. The handle coupling portion 8 is located on the rear side of the handle grip 6 and is arranged near the longitudinal end of the handle grip 6. The handle coupling portion 8 is configured to fit in a cavity of the housing 1 when the handle 2 is in the closed position. The handle coupling portion 8 comprises a protruding portion 9 extending symmetrically from the coupling portion 8 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle grip 6, in particular along the first axis a. The handle coupling portion 8 further comprises a slot 10. The slot 10 extends through the handle coupling portion along a fourth axis D that is parallel to and offset from the first axis a. The slot 10 is elongated along the side of the handle coupling portion 8. The groove 10 is curved along the side of the handle coupling portion 8. The slot 10 has curved inner walls configured to receive a cylindrical object (such as a shaft). Such a shaft may be movable in a sliding motion along a surface elongated slot. The elongated slot 10 may also allow such a shaft to rotate when such a shaft is disposed within the slot 10. The handle coupling portion 8 is connected to the handle grip 6 in an offset manner from the rear end, so that a coupling recess 12 is provided between the handle coupling portion 8 and the handle grip 6 of the handle 2. The coupling recess 12 is configured to receive a front side edge 19 of the housing 1. Further, the handle coupling portion 8 is bent such that the protruding portion 9 is closer to a plane defined by the rear side of the handle grip 6 of the handle 2. This allows the handle 2 to be rotated about the first axis a when arranged on the housing 1 to be fixed closer to the housing 1.

The handle arrangement 100 further comprises a gear 13, see fig. 4, 7 and 12. The connecting element 15 may be connected to the gear wheel 13. The connecting element 15 has an elongated shape extending along the second axis B, wherein a portion of the connecting element (central portion 16) is cylindrically shaped. The cross-section of the central portion 16 along the second axis B may be circular. One end 17 of the connecting element 15 is configured to couple with a coupling element of a latch arrangement of the openable element. The coupling end 17 may be substantially square. The interface between the central portion 16 and the coupling end 17 may be provided with a cog-like structure having cogs 18 distributed along this interface along at least a part of the circumference of the connecting element 15. This cog-like structure may conveniently engage with a corresponding cog-like structure of the coupling element. The gear 13 may be located on the opposite longitudinal end of the connecting element 15 with respect to the coupling end 17 of said connecting element 15. The gear 13 is arranged along a plane perpendicular to the second axis B. The gear 13 comprises cogs 14 along a portion of the circumference of the gear 13, about 90 degrees along the circumference. The cavity of the connecting element 15 extends from an opening placed centrally on one side of the gear wheel 4 around the second axis B and extends a certain depth into the connecting element 15. This cavity will be discussed in more detail below.

The handle arrangement 100 further comprises a motion converter 20, see fig. 5. The motion converter 20 comprises a pair of

racks

21a, 21b extending along the third axis C. The

racks

21a, 21b are substantially rectangular parallelepiped in shape and are identical in size. The

racks

21a, 21b are rotatably coupled to the link element 22 via a shaft 25. The inner parts of the

racks

21a, 21b facing each other are provided with a groove 27, the length of the groove 27 extending parallel to the third axis C, the width defining an extension of the groove 27 perpendicular to the third axis C and to the axis of rotation of the rack link element coupling portion, and the depth defining an extension of the groove 27 perpendicular to the third axis C and parallel to the axis of rotation of the rack link element coupling portion. The width of each slot 27 is configured to be at least as wide as the thickness of the gear cog 14 so that the gear cog 14 can engage in said slot 27. At least one of the slots 27 is provided with cutting teeth 28 for engagement with the gear cog 14. The

opposite racks

21a, 21b may have substantially only a supporting function.

The link element 22 also has an elongated shape, more particularly a Y-shape. The link element comprises a first end portion 23 and a second end portion 24, wherein one end portion 23 is rotatably coupled to the

gear racks

21a, 21b by said shaft 25. The opposite end portion 24, i.e. the portion corresponding to the top portion of Y, is configured to be rotatably coupled to the handle 2 via a shaft 26 configured to be arranged in the slot 10 of the handle coupling portion 8. Since the slot 10 is elongated, the link element 22 can translate and rotate with respect to the handle 2.

In fig. 6 and 7, the motion converter 20, the gear 13, the connecting element 15 and the handle 2 are assembled. Fig. 7 specifically depicts the assembled components with a portion of the handle 2 removed from view to more clearly show the structural arrangement. In fig. 6 and 7, the handle 2 is in the closed position. In this position, the motion converter 20 is arranged substantially parallel with respect to the handle grip 6 of the handle 2. The motion converter 20 and the handle 2 are coupled to each other via the handle coupling portion 8. The

racks

21a, 21b and the linking element 22 are all arranged on the same plane and are arranged along the third axis C and perpendicular to the first axis a when the handle 2 is in the closed position. The connecting element 15 is arranged such that the second axis B is substantially perpendicular to the first axis a and the third axis C. The

racks

21a, 21b are arranged such that they sandwich the gear 13 such that a portion of the gear 13 rests within the groove 27 of the

racks

21a, 21 b. Further, the gear 13 is arranged such that the cogs 14 of the gear 13 engage with the cutting teeth 28 on the rack 21 a. Either of the

racks

21a, 21b may comprise cutting teeth and the gear 13 may be arranged accordingly, such that the function of the handle arrangement 100 remains the same.

The handle 2 can be rotated to a maximum open position. The same components as depicted in fig. 6 and 7 are now depicted in this maximum open position in fig. 8. When the handle 2 is moved towards this maximum open position, the motion converter 20 follows the handle 2 due to the coupling of the shaft 26 with the handle coupling portion 8. When the motion converter 20 follows the handle 2, it converts the rotation of the handle 2 into a rotation of the connecting element 15 and of the toothed wheel 14 about the second axis B via the toothed racks 21a, 21B and the linking element 22.

Fig. 9a and 9b depict cross-sectional views of a handle arrangement according to one of the embodiments. In particular, fig. 9a depicts the handle arrangement 100 when the handle 2 is in the closed position. Fig. 9b depicts the handle arrangement 100 when the handle 2 is in the maximum open position.

A motion converter 20 is depicted in fig. 10 a-10 b. In fig. 10a, the handle 2 is in the closed position. The front side surface of the grip portion 6 of the handle 2 engages with the forward facing edge 19 of the housing 1 to form a seamless and substantially continuous boundary between the handle grip 6 and the housing 1. The handle coupling portion 8 is located entirely within the cavity of the housing 1, in particular the handle coupling portion recess 12 is located below said forward facing edge 19 of the housing 1. Furthermore, the motion converter 20, and in particular the link element 22, is arranged to extend along the third axis C. In this position, the shaft 26 coupling the end portion 24 of the link element 22 to the handle coupling portion 18 is positioned in the elongated slot 10 at one end closer to the top surface of the handle grip 6.

Within the motion converter 20 there is a cavity 29 for accommodating a pre-biased spring 30 and an abutment element 31. In some embodiments, this cavity 29 is specifically placed within the linking element 22. The pre-biased spring 30 urges the abutment element 31 towards the receiving surface 11 located along the side of the handle coupling portion 8 facing the motion converter 20. The pre-biased spring 30 pushes the abutment element 31 along the longitudinal extension of the motion converter 20. The receiving surface 11 comprises a first receiving surface portion 11a and a second receiving surface portion 11b, each receiving

surface portion

11a, 11b being inclined with respect to the third axis C when the handle 2 is in the closed position. The first receiving surface portion 11a is less inclined with respect to the third axis C than the second receiving surface portion 11 b. When the handle 2 is in the closed position, the abutment member 31 abuts the first receiving surface portion 11 a. When the handle 2 is released from its closed position, i.e. the latch 35 holding the handle 2 in place is disengaged from the latch receiving element 7 on the underside of the handle grip portion 6, then the pre-biased spring 30 can push the abutment element 31 along the receiving surface 11a so that the handle 2 starts to rotate. The rotation is maintained until the abutment element 31 is pushed into the curved boundary between the first receiving surface portion 11a and the second receiving portion 11 b. The amount of rotation of the handle 2 depends on the inclination of the receiving

surface portions

11a, 11b and the spring force in the spring 29. When the abutment element 31 is located there, the pre-biased spring 30 cannot itself push the abutment element 31 further, since the abutment element 31 is essentially trapped between the first receiving portion 11a and the second receiving portion 11 b. When the abutment element 31 is placed there, the handle 2 has been rotated to the intermediate position. In this position, a wide space is formed between the grip portion 6 of the handle 2 and the front side of the housing 1, allowing the user to grasp the handle grip portion 6 and rotate it further.

In particular, in this intermediate position, the motion converter 20 is only partially moved. The

racks

21a, 21b have not yet been forced to translate relative to the housing 1. This function is the effect of the slot 10 being elongate. In the closed position, the shaft 26 of the handle arrangement 100 is located at one end of the elongate slot 10. When the handle 2 is moved to the intermediate position, the shaft 26 moves along the slot 10 towards the opposite end of the elongate slot 10. Only by rotating the handle 2 from the housing 1 away from the neutral position will the

racks

21a, 21b translate relative to the housing 1 along the third axis C, so that the gear wheel 13 starts to rotate. As shown in fig. 10b, the handle 2 can be rotated to the maximum open position. In this position, the

racks

21a, 21b have been translated so as to make the gear 13 fully rotate. Furthermore, the abutment element 31 has been pushed into an abutment element receiving surface 11c which is configured to engage with the abutment element 31 and hold it in place. By placing this abutment element 31 in the abutment element receiving surface 11c, the handle 2 will be locked in its respective maximum open position. The abutment element 31 can be disengaged from this position by exerting a sufficiently strong force on the handle 2 in the direction towards the housing 1 so as to counteract and overcome the spring force. Furthermore, when the handle 2 is in the maximum open position, the front side edge 19 of the housing 1 is located within the handle coupling portion recess 12. In this position, the handle coupling portion 8 near the shaft 9 completely abuts the inner wall of the housing 1, thereby preventing further rotation of the handle 2.

The motion converter 20 is further depicted in fig. 11. When moving towards the handle coupling portion 8, the movement of the abutment element 31 is guided by a groove 33 configured to be coupled to the shaft 26 at the end portion 24 under the influence of the pre-biased spring 30. A set of projections 32 is configured to engage with the guide slot 33. In an embodiment in which the motion converter 20 comprises a link element 22, the guide slot 33 is located within the link element 22.

Fig. 12 depicts an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connecting element 15 arranged inside the housing 1 when the handle 2 is in the closed position. The spring 43 is inserted into a cavity of the connecting element 15, which is open to one side of the gear 13, so that one longitudinal end of the spring 43 abuts the inside of the connecting element 15, while the opposite longitudinal end of the spring 43 abuts the housing 1. The spring 43 is arranged pre-biased between the interior of the housing 1 and the connecting element 15. The spring 43 may be used as a means for facilitating the rotation of the connecting element 15 and the gear 13. The spring 43 is pre-biased such that the gears 13 engage substantially midway along the respective width dimension of the rack slot 27. Furthermore, the spring 43 may also be configured to exert a torque on the connecting element 15 when said connecting element 15 is rotated away from its rest orientation.

The spacer element 42 is interposed between the connection element 15 and the casing 1 on the opposite side of the spring 43 along the second axis B. Said spacer elements 42 extend along the circumference of the cylindrical surface of the connecting element 15. The spacer element 42 and the spring 43 mutually hold the connecting element 15 to facilitate the engagement of the toothed wheel 13 with the

racks

21a, 21 b.

In one embodiment, the handle arrangement 100 may further comprise a latch element 34, see fig. 13a and 13 b. The latch element 34 comprises a latch 35 configured to latch onto the latch receiving element 7 located on the rear side of the handle grip 6. The latch element 34 may be provided with a substantially cylindrical hollow or solid body and is configured to be rotatable about a fifth axis E. The latch element 34 further comprises at least one flange 36 protruding from the body of the latch element 34 on the side facing the locking device 3. The latching element 34 may be placed in a suitable cavity of the housing to allow said rotation about the fifth axis E. When arranged in the appropriate cavity, the latch element 34 abuts the housing via the abutment side 38. The abutment side 38 is cylindrically shaped and a suitable cavity in the housing is configured to receive and engage the abutment side 38. When the latch element 34 is rotated about the fifth axis E, the abutment side 38 slides along the appropriate housing cavity. The latch element 34 may also comprise a further protrusion on the opposite side of the latch element body with respect to the locking device. The protrusion may be provided with a spring cavity 37 configured to contain a pre-biased spring 41, see fig. 9 a-9 b (not shown in fig. 13 a-13 b). The spring 41 urges the latch element 34 towards the latched position.

In fig. 14a and 14b a locking device 3 of a handle arrangement according to one embodiment is depicted. The locking device 3 is provided with an interacting portion 40 and an abutment element 39 rotatable about a sixth axis F. The abutment element is configured to be rotatably pressed against the flange 36, thereby rotating the latch element about the fifth axis E. In the embodiment of fig. 14a and 14b, the interacting portion 40 is a key cylinder.

Fig. 15a and 15b depict an assembly of an embodiment of the invention comprising a locking device 3, a latching element 34, a housing abutment plate 43 and a handle 2. In fig. 15a, the handle is in the closed position when the latch 35 of the latch element 34 is engaged with the corresponding latch receiving element 7 of the handle. By interacting with the interacting portion 40 of the locking device, the abutment element 39 is pressed onto the flange 36, thereby rotating the latch element about the fifth axis E, so that the latch 35 is disengaged from the latch receiving portion 7 of the handle, so that the handle can be rotated about the first axis a, as previously described.

Fig. 16a to 16b, 17a to 17b, 18a to 18b and 19a to 19b depict different variants of the locking device 3 in perspective view and side view, respectively. In fig. 16a to 16b, a cylinder lock 3a is shown. The cylinder lock 3a comprises an interaction portion 40a and an abutment element 39 a. By inserting the key into the interaction portion 40a and twisting said key around the sixth axis F, the abutment element 39a is also rotated around the sixth axis F. When inserted into the handle arrangement 100, said twisting of the key inside the interaction portion 40 causes the abutment element 39a to abut and press against the flange 36 of the latch element 34 of the handle arrangement. Twisting the key within the interaction portion 40 thus disengages the latch 35 from the latch receiving portion 7 of the handle 2, allowing the handle 2 to be rotated from its closed position.

In fig. 17a to 17b, different embodiments of the locking device 3 are shown. The locking device 3b comprises an interacting portion 40b, in this case a push button, which is movable along a sixth axis F. The locking device 3b further comprises an abutment element 39b, a guide flange 61b and a pre-biased spring 60b placed in the cavity of the button 40 b. One longitudinal end of the spring is arranged so that it presses against an inner surface of the push-button, said inner surface being arranged perpendicularly to the axis F. The opposite end of the pre-biased spring 60b is arranged to press against a receiving plate (not shown) fixed to the housing. The housing 1 further comprises a guide groove in which the guide flange 61b is configured to be placed. The housing further comprises a guide slot into which a set of guide portions 62b on the abutment element 39b are inserted for guiding the movement of the abutment element 39b when the push button 40b is pressed along the sixth axis F. When the push button is pressed, the abutment element 39b is guided mainly in a direction perpendicular to the sixth axis F. When inserted into the handle arrangement 100, said pressing of the push button 40b causes the abutment element 39b to abut and press onto the flange 36 of the latch element 34 of the handle arrangement 100. Thus, pressing the button along the sixth axis F thus disengages the latch 35 from the latch receiving portion 7 of the handle 2, allowing the handle 2 to be rotated from its closed position.

In fig. 18a to 18b and 19a to 19b, two different embodiments of the locking device 3 are shown. The

locking device

3c, 3d comprises an interacting

portion

40c, 40d, an

abutment element

39c, 39d and a

spring

60c, 60 d. The

abutment elements

39c, 39d are rotatable about a sixth axis F, which rotation is caused by interaction with the interacting

portions

40c, 40 d. The

springs

60c, 60d are arranged so that one longitudinal end abuts the housing and the opposite end abuts the

abutment elements

39c, 39 d. When the

abutment elements

39c, 39d rotate about the sixth axis F, the

springs

60c, 60d are biased so as to exert a torque on the

abutment elements

39c, 39d to force them to return to the rest position. When inserted into the handle arrangement 100, said rotation of the

abutment elements

39c, 39d causes the

abutment elements

39c, 39d to abut and press against the flange 36 of the latch element 34 of the handle arrangement 100. Thus, the rotation thus disengages the latch 35 from the latch receiving portion 7 of the handle 2, allowing the handle 2 to rotate from its closed position.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A handle arrangement (100) comprising:

a housing (1); and

a handle (2) comprising a handle grip (6) and a handle coupling portion (8), the handle being rotatable relative to the housing (1) about a first axis (A),

characterized in that the handle arrangement (100) further comprises

A gear (13) rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis (B), an

A motion converter (20) comprising a first motion converter rack (21a) and a second motion converter rack (21b) arranged adjacent to the gear wheel (13), the first motion converter rack (21a) and the second motion converter rack (21b) being linearly movable along a third axis (C) relative to the gear wheel, the motion converter comprising cutting teeth (28) configured to engage with respective cogs (14) of the gear wheel,

wherein the motion converter (20) is coupled to the handle (2) such that rotation of the handle about the first axis (A) causes the first and second motion converter racks (21a, 21B) to move along the third axis (C) such that the gear (13) rotates about the second axis (B),

wherein the motion converter (20) is provided with a pre-biased spring (30) configured to urge an abutment element (31) towards a recess (11a-c) in the handle (2) configured to receive the abutment element such that the handle remains in place in at least one position.

2. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first axis (a) and the second axis (B) are perpendicular to each other.

3. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first axis (a) and the second axis (B) are parallel to each other.

4. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the third axis (C) is perpendicular to the first axis (a) and the second axis (B).

5. Handle arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (2) comprises a first elongated slot (10) configured to guide the motion converter (20) such that the handle can be unlocked from a fastening position to rotate to an intermediate position without translating the first motion converter rack (21a) and the second motion converter rack (21b) along the third axis (C).

6. Handle arrangement according to claim 5, the motion converter (20) comprising a link element (22) comprising two end portions (23, 24), wherein one end portion (23) is rotatably coupled to the first motion converter rack (21a) and the second motion converter rack (21b) and the other end portion (24) is rotatably coupled to the handle (2).

7. Handle arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the motion converter (20) comprises a second elongated slot (33) guiding the movement of the abutment element (31) when the handle (2) is unlocked from the fastening position to rotate to the intermediate position.

8. Handle arrangement according to any of claims 6-7, wherein the contact interface between the abutment element (31) and the handle (2) is inclined with respect to the contact direction of the abutment element and the handle.

9. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cogs (14) of the gear wheel (13) are distributed along a part of its circumference on the side facing the first motion converter rack (21 a).

10. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the motion converter (20) comprises the second motion converter rack (21b), which second motion converter rack (21b) is arranged adjacent to the gear wheel (13) on the opposite side with respect to the first motion converter rack (21 a).

11. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, said handle arrangement (100) comprising a spring (43) interposed between the gear wheel (13) and the housing (1).

12. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, said handle arrangement (100) comprising a spacer element (42) interposed between the gear wheel (13) and the housing (1).

13. Handle arrangement according to claim 1, said handle arrangement (100) comprising a coupling recess (12) arranged between the handle grip (6) and the handle coupling portion (8), the coupling recess being configured to receive a forward facing edge (19) of the housing (1) when the handle (2) is rotated to a maximally open position.

14. Use of a handle arrangement (100) according to any of the preceding claims for releasing or securing a door comprising a latch mechanism having a latched position securing the door to a door frame and an unlatched position releasing the door, wherein the gear (13) is coupled to the latch mechanism such that rotation of the gear (13) about the second axis (B) moves the latch mechanism between the latched and unlatched positions.